Means for closing cans



No. 6l9,347. Patented Feb. l4, I899. J. F. RICHMANN.

MEANS FOR GLUSING CANS, BOTTLES, JUGS, JARS, 0R SIMILAR IESSELS.

(Application filed July 13, 189B.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOH A TTOHNE YJ' WITNESSES YNE Nonms PEYERS 00., wnovoumon WASHINGTON. n. c.

' Unirsn STATES JOHN FREDRICK RIOHMANN, OF FORT LEE, NE\V JERSEY.

MEANS FOR CLOSING CANS, BOTTLES, JUGS, JARS, OR SIMILAR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,347, dated February 14, 1899.

Application filed July 13, 1898. Serial No. 685,867. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN FREDRIOK RICH MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Lee, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Closing Cans, Bottles, Jugs, Jars, or Similar Vessels, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for closing cans, bottles, jugs, jars, and similar vessels; and the object thereof is to provide improved devices of this class which are simple in construction and operation and comparatively inexpensive and by means of which a vessel of the class named may be quickly and hermetically sealed and whereby the cap or cover by which the vessel is sealed may be easily removed whenever desired.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which I have shown my improvement applied to an ordinary can, and in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views, and in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the upperpart of a can provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a side view thereof, and Fig. 3 a plan View.

In the drawings forming part of this specification I have shown at 5 the upper part of a can, which may be composed of any desired material, and said can is provided with a neck 6, around which is formed an annular groove 7, and secured in the groove 7 in any desired manner is a wire 8, and this wire is provided at its opposite sides with short upwardly-directed lugs, arms, or projections 9, which are formed integrally therewith and one of which is provided at its upper end with an eye or ring 10 and the other with a hook 11. A cross-rod 12 is pivotally connected with the eye or ring 10, and said cross-rod is preferably provided at its opposite end with a short angular extension 13, and the end of said rod adjacent to the extension 13 is adapted to be passed under the hook 11.

I also provide a cap or cover 14 for the neck 6 of the can 5, and the diameter of said cap or cover is preferably equal to that of the outer diameter of said neck, and at a predetermined distance from the perimeter of said cap or cover is formed a down wardly-directed flange or rim 15, which fits within said neck, and between the outer portion or perimeter of the cap or cover and the neck 6 is placed a packing-ring 16 of any desired material.

1 also provide a cam-lever 17, having a head 18, through which the rod 12 is passed, and said lever is adapted to turn on said rod, and the head 18 thereof is provided with a downwardly-directed cam-shaped projection 19, which is substantially at right angles to the main portion of the lever, and in the construction shown the cap or cover 14 is provided centrally with a circular depression 20, in which the cam-shaped projection 19 of the lever 17 works.

The cap or cover 14 may be made of any desired material, and the circular cavity or recess 20 therein is not essential, and the operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement thereof.

WVhen the lever 17 is swung into an upright or vertical position, the free end of the rod 12 may be detached from the hook 11 and the cap or cover 14 may be removed, as will be readily understood, and whenever it is desired to seal the can the rod 12 of the lever 17 mounted thereon, is swung backwardly, the cap or cover is placed in position, and the rod 12 is swung into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the free end thereof passes under the hook 11, after which the lever 17 is swung into the position shown in Fig. l, and the cap or cover is securely locked in position and held therein by the lever 17.

My improvement is simple in construction and operation and well adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended and is also comparatively inexpensive.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A can or other vessel provided with a neck, a wire or band secured to and encircling said neck, a cross-rod pivotally connected with said wire or band at one side thereof and adapted to swing vertically, means for detachably connecting the opposite end of said crossrod with said wire or band, and a lever mounted on said cross-rod centrally thereof, and provided with a downwardly-directed shoulder or projection, substantially as shown and described.

2. A can or other vessel provided with a neck having an annular groove in the outer Wall thereof, a wire or band secured in said groove, said wire or band being provided at opposite sides with upwardly-directed projections, one of which is provided with a hook, a cross-rod hinged to the other projection and adapted to swing vertically, and the free end of which is adapted to engage said hook, a lever mounted on said cross-rod centrally thereof and adapted to swing vertically, said lever being provided with a downwardly-directed shoulder or projection, substantially as shown and described.

3. The herein-described means for securing a cap or cover to the neck of a can or other vessel, comprising a wire or band which is adapted to be secured to said neck, and which is provided at its opposite ends with upwardly-directed projections, one of which is provided with a hook, a cross-rod pivotally connected with the opposite projection, and adapted to engage with said hook, a lever through one end of which said rod passes, said lever being provided at the end thereof through which the rod passes, with a downwardly-directed projection which is adapted to bear on the cap or cover of the can, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have sign ed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 9th day of July, 1898.

JOHN FREDRIOK RIGHMANN.

Witnesses:

F. A. STEWART, A. G. MOLOUGHLIN. 

